---
title: "Prepare the inputs for a special flight permit"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/aviation-drones-and-space/prepare-the-inputs-for-a-special-flight-permit"
type: "task"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A60-QU20261022-11"
practice_area: "Aviation, Drones & Space"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Prepare the inputs for a special flight permit

> From the aircraft and the flight the lawyer describes, record which situation in paragraph 2.1.1 of the advisory circular applies: a certificate of airworthiness is temporarily invalid, for example because of damage or…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/aviation-drones-and-space/prepare-the-inputs-for-a-special-flight-permit  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Aviation, Drones & Space](https://ailawframework.com/practice/aviation-drones-and-space.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | From the aircraft and the flight the lawyer describes, record which situation in paragraph 2.1.1 of the advisory circular applies: a certificate of airworthiness is temporarily invalid, for example because of damage or lack of maintenance; a certificate of airworthiness cannot be issued because the aircraft does not comply with the essential requirements for airworthiness; or compliance has not yet been shown but the aircraft is capable of performing a safe flight. If regulation 21.197(1) is relied on, record which purpose in paragraph 2.1.4 applies: flying to a base for repairs, modifications or maintenance, or to storage; delivering or exporting the aircraft; production flight testing of a new production aircraft; evacuating the aircraft from an area of impending danger; customer demonstration flights in new production aircraft that have satisfactorily completed production test flights; assisting in searching for, bringing aid to, or rescuing persons in danger on a particular occasion; or assisting in dealing with a state of emergency. If regulation 21.197(2) is relied on, record that the aircraft meets the applicable airworthiness requirements except those that cannot be met because of an overweight condition, and that the permit may be issued for any temporary non-commercial operation. Use the circular's definitions: certificated maximum take-off weight is the approved type-design or certificate-of-airworthiness weight; commercial operations means hire or reward or carrying paying passengers; overweight operations means above certificated maximum take-off weight. Record the further limits that were read in full: a permit is not an authorisation to deviate from the operating rules; it does not allow commercial operations; it does not authorise flight over countries other than Australia without those countries' permission; its validity is not affected by operation outside Australia if the aircraft is operated for the intended purpose and within the time on the permit; and a maintenance-completion flight test or an assessment flight entered on the flight and technical log, CASA 918, does not need a permit. A special flight authorisation under regulation 135A is a different instrument and is not this task. Record that any person may apply, that the registered operator is usually the applicant, that the application is Form 725, and that an application to CASA is emailed with the documents to regservices@casa.gov.au, or made to a CASR 21.200 authorised person. The circular describes an hourly fee from the CASA schedule and a local estimate. No dollar figure is stated. Record that an issued permit is emailed, the sent copy is valid, and Form 721 must be carried on board for the flights, domestic or international. Record paragraph 4.2.1: a permit is normally issued for a specific duration for the prescribed flight or flights, and is in force for the specified period or until cancelled, whichever occurs first. Record paragraph 4.3.1: an authorised person or CASA may suspend or cancel by written notice if they consider it necessary in the interests of aviation safety. The further overweight limits in section 5 of the circular were not taken beyond the subregulation 21.197(2) rule above. The tool does not complete Form 725 or Form 721. |
| What the lawyer must review | The lawyer decides whether a permit is available for this flight, the conditions to seek, and completes and sends Form 725. |
| Written for / versions | 1 jurisdiction versions below |

## Checking plan

**Source-by-source verification**

Trace relied-on content to independent sources and check for relevant material the output has missed.

- What the AI does: From the aircraft and the flight the lawyer describes, record which situation in paragraph 2.1.1 of the advisory circular applies: a certificate of airworthiness is temporarily invalid, for example because of damage or lack of maintenance; a certificate of airworthiness cannot be issued because the aircraft does not comply with the essential requirements for airworthiness; or compliance has not yet been shown but the aircraft is capable of performing a safe flight. If regulation 21.197(1) is relied on, record which purpose in paragraph 2.1.4 applies: flying to a base for repairs, modifications or maintenance, or to storage; delivering or exporting the aircraft; production flight testing of a new production aircraft; evacuating the aircraft from an area of impending danger; customer demonstration flights in new production aircraft that have satisfactorily completed production test flights; assisting in searching for, bringing aid to, or rescuing persons in danger on a particular occasion; or assisting in dealing with a state of emergency. If regulation 21.197(2) is relied on, record that the aircraft meets the applicable airworthiness requirements except those that cannot be met because of an overweight condition, and that the permit may be issued for any temporary non-commercial operation. Use the circular's definitions: certificated maximum take-off weight is the approved type-design or certificate-of-airworthiness weight; commercial operations means hire or reward or carrying paying passengers; overweight operations means above certificated maximum take-off weight. Record the further limits that were read in full: a permit is not an authorisation to deviate from the operating rules; it does not allow commercial operations; it does not authorise flight over countries other than Australia without those countries' permission; its validity is not affected by operation outside Australia if the aircraft is operated for the intended purpose and within the time on the permit; and a maintenance-completion flight test or an assessment flight entered on the flight and technical log, CASA 918, does not need a permit. A special flight authorisation under regulation 135A is a different instrument and is not this task. Record that any person may apply, that the registered operator is usually the applicant, that the application is Form 725, and that an application to CASA is emailed with the documents to regservices@casa.gov.au, or made to a CASR 21.200 authorised person. The circular describes an hourly fee from the CASA schedule and a local estimate. No dollar figure is stated. Record that an issued permit is emailed, the sent copy is valid, and Form 721 must be carried on board for the flights, domestic or international. Record paragraph 4.2.1: a permit is normally issued for a specific duration for the prescribed flight or flights, and is in force for the specified period or until cancelled, whichever occurs first. Record paragraph 4.3.1: an authorised person or CASA may suspend or cancel by written notice if they consider it necessary in the interests of aviation safety. The further overweight limits in section 5 of the circular were not taken beyond the subregulation 21.197(2) rule above. The tool does not complete Form 725 or Form 721.
- What the lawyer does: The lawyer decides whether a permit is available for this flight, the conditions to seek, and completes and sends Form 725.
- Who reviews: Responsible lawyer with competence in the matter
- Basis: Practical workflow informed by the linked primary sources; the traffic light and working checks are editorial guidance, not a court classification.
- Why: The level reflects what the work is, the consequence of an error, and how much of the output the lawyer must independently re-derive.

## Checks the lawyer makes

1. Match the aircraft to one situation in paragraph 2.1.1 and, if subregulation 21.197(1) is used, to one purpose in paragraph 2.1.4.
2. If the flight is overweight, record the temporary non-commercial limit and do not add the section 5 weight percentages, which were not used.
3. Record Form 725, the email address, and that the issued Form 721 must be carried. Do not complete either form.

## Notes

- These are suggested working checks. Confirm the required checking with the responsible lawyer before work starts; the checking approach does not establish permission to use AI.

## Sources

- [CASA Advisory Circular 21-09: Special flight permits](https://www.casa.gov.au/special-flight-permits) (checked 2026-10-22)

## Jurisdiction versions

| Jurisdiction | Level |
| --- | --- |
| [United States](https://ailawframework.com/practice/aviation-drones-and-space/prepare-the-inputs-for-a-special-flight-permit/united-states.md) | Yellow |

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*